BACKGROUND: Periungual warts are a therapeutic challenge. Many studies have revealed that intralesional interferon α-2b therapy and pulsed dye laser therapy have numerous advantages over other modalities of theratment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if combination therapy with intralesional interferon α-2b and pulsed dye laser might offer an effective treatment for periungual warts. METHODS: Thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to one of three study groups. In group A, the patients received both intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser(PDL) therapy (n=13). Group B patients were treated wit intralesional interferon α-2b alone (n=10) and group C was done with PDL therapy only (n=10). RESULTS: The clearance rate was 92.3% for the patients treated with the combination therapy of intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy. It was 50% for the patients with the intralesional interferon α-2b treatment alone, and 0% for the group with the PDL therpy only. No significant side effects were observed. At 6 months after cessation of the therapy, total 2 cases (one from group A and the other from group B) were recurred. CONCLUSION: The combination therapy with intralesional interferon α-2b treatment and pulsed dye laser therapy was highly effective for the treatment of recalcitrant periungual warts.
Humans ; Interferons* ; Lasers, Dye* ; Warts*

We herein report a case of subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma which occurred in a 48-year-old Korean woman. Her disease presented as multiple subcutaneous nodules on the arms, legs, and abdomen, with systemic symptoms and signs. From the results of immunophenotypic studies, we suggest her disease may originate from cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. The patient had a protracted course of multiple dark-red-colored subcutaneous nodules on both arms, legs, and abdomen for 1 year, often with fever, chills, and malaise. Histopathologic findings for the subcutaneous nodule in the lower abdomen revealed diffuse infiltration of atypical lymphocytes in the subcutis, with extensive fat necrosis and karyorrhexis and a bean-bag cell appearance with engulfed lymphocytes in some histiocytes. The immunophenotypic studies showed a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte profile, i. e., LCA+, lysozyme+, UCHL1+, CD8+, CD20-, CD30-, and CD56-. In situ hybridization studies for the Epstein-Barr virus genome resulted in a negative finding. A lymphadenopathy was found in the right upper paratracheal area on the chest CT associated with pancytopenia and abnormal LFT findings. She received high-dose chemotherapy with autologous blood stem cell transplantation, but died after 6 months.
Abdomen ; Arm ; Chills ; Drug Therapy ; Fat Necrosis ; Female ; Fever ; Genome ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type VI ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Leg ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma, T-Cell* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: The factors that regulate hair follicle growth are still poorly understood. In vitro models may be useful in elucidating some aspects of hair follicle biology. TNF-alpha is potent inhibitor of hair follicle growth. TNF-alpha induces the formation of a club-like hair follicle, similar to catagen morphology of the hair bulb. Minoxidil induces generalized hypertrichosis when administered systemically, or localized hair regrowth when applied topically to sites of alopecia. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha and minoxidil on human hair growth using in vitro model. METHODS: Healthy human hair follicles without any visible damage were collected, they were cultured in Williams E medium with several combinations of supplements and TNF-alpha and/or minoxidil were added to the media. The results were evaluated by measuring linear hair fiber growth and hair follicle morphology on light microsocopy and by measuring radioisotope uptake of (methyl-3H)thymidine of hair follicle. RESULTS: The following results were obtained from this study. TNF-alpha have inhibitory effect on the rate of linear hair growth in cultured hair follicles. Minoxidil has no stimulatory effect on the rate of linear hair growth and no protective effect on the TNF-alpha induced growth inhibition in cultured hair follicles. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha has growth-inhibitory effect and minoxidil has no protective effect on the TNF-alpha induced hair change.
Alopecia ; Biology ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans* ; Hypertrichosis ; Minoxidil* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

Eccrine poroma is a benign skin appendage tumor originating from the intradermal part of the sweat duct. It is found commonly on the hairless surface of the feet, although eccrine poroma of the hands, head, trunk, and legs have been reported. Histopathologically, the tumor extends from the lower portion of the epidermis into the dermis as broad, anastomosing bands. The tumor cells are smaller than squamous cells, having a uniform cuboidal appearance and a round, deeply basophilic nucleus, connected by intercellular bridges. In eccrine poromas, narrow ducta1 lumina and occasional cystic spaces are found within the tumor bands, but a large cystic space is very unusual. We report a case of eccrine poroma with a large cystic space extending from epidermis into the reticular dermis.
Basophils ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Foot ; Hand ; Head ; Leg ; Poroma* ; Skin ; Sweat

Naringenin (NAR) as one of the flavonoids observed in grapefruit has been reported to exhibit an anti-cancer activity. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is associated with apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. This study was performed to investigate the molecular mechanism by which NAR stimulates ATF3 expression and apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. NAR reduced the cell viability and induced an apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. ATF3 overexpression increased NAR-mediated cleaved PARP, while ATF3 knockdown attenuated the cleavage of PARP by NAR. NAR increased ATF3 expression in both protein and mRNA level, and increased the luciferase activity of ATF3 promoter in a dose-dependent manner. The responsible region for ATF3 transcriptional activation by NAR is located between -317 and -148 of ATF3 promoter. p38 inhibition blocked NAR-mediated ATF3 expression, its promoter activation and apoptosis. The results suggest that NAR induces apoptosis through p38-dependent ATF3 activation in human colon cancer cells.
Activating Transcription Factor 3 ; Apoptosis* ; Cell Survival ; Citrus paradisi ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Flavonoids ; Humans* ; Luciferases ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcriptional Activation

Kahweol as a coffee-specific diterpene has been reported to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells. Although some molecular targets for kahweol-mediated apoptosis have been elucidated, the further mechanism for apoptotic effect of kahweol is not known. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) has been reported to be associated with apoptosis in colorectal cancer. The present study was performed to investigate the molecular mechanism by which kahweol stimulates ATF3 expression and apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. Kahweol increased apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. It also increased ATF3 expression through the transcriptional activity. The responsible cis-element for ATF3 transcriptional activation by kahweol was CREB located between −147 to −85 of ATF3 promoter. ATF3 overexpression increased kahweol-mediated cleaved PARP, while ATF3 knockdown attenuated the cleavage of PARP by kahweol. Inhibition of ERK1/2 and GSK3β blocked kahweol-mediated ATF3 expression. The results suggest that kahweol induces apoptosis through ATF3-mediated pathway in human colorectal cancer cells.
Activating Transcription Factor 3* ; Apoptosis* ; Coffee* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans* ; Transcriptional Activation

BACKGROUND: Currently the most common treatment modality of refractory ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis was large volume paracentesis, but this procedure usually needed albumin infusion and occasionally developed unwanted complications. By reason of albumin shortage in Korea and occasional unfavorable complications, we studied the usefulness of dialytic ultrafiltration as an another treatment modality of refractory ascites. METHODS: Dialytic ultrafiltration was done in 10 patients (total 48 times) with liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Two drainage conduit (via 16 gauge angio-catheter) of input and output were made by puncture of patient's right and left lower quadrant abdomen. The initial ultrafiltration rate of dialyser was 250mL/min. Ascitic fluid was removed continuously until the filtration rate down at 50mL/min. After ultrafiltration, ascitic fluid contained concentrated albumin and large molecules was reinfused via input conduit. Pre-treatment and post-treatment level of blood chemistry, plasma renin concentration, aldosterone, and electrolytes in serum; total protein and albumin in ascites were measured. During the ultrafiltration, we closely observed the change of blood pressure, heart rates and mental status. RESULTS: The mean ultrafiltration time was 231+/-28min, ultrafiltrated volume was 5.15+/-1.41 L. During dialytic ultrafiltration, patient's blood pressure and heart rate were stable and there was no change of mental status. After dialytic ultrafiltration, blood urea nitrogen level significantly decreased from 30.5+/-23.7mg/dL to 25.7+/-20.2mg/dL; serum aldosterone level decreased from 807.3+/-301.1pg/ml to 431.1+/-187.2pg/ml in serum (P<0.01). The albumin level in the ascitic fluid significantly increased from 0.67+/-0.28g/dL to 1.90+/-1.16g/dL (P<0.01). Plasma renin concentration level tend to decreased (P=0.06). The patient's serum total protein, albumin, electrolytes, and creatinine were not changed. Complications of dialytic ultrafiltration were peritonitis (one case) and hypotension (one case). But these unwanted complications were readily managed by adequate antibiotics and intravenous fluid therapy. CONCLUSION: The dialytic ultrafiltration can be used effectively without albumin infusion in the treatment of refrartory ascites in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.
Abdomen ; Aldosterone ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites* ; Ascitic Fluid ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemistry ; Creatinine ; Drainage ; Electrolytes ; Filtration ; Fluid Therapy ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Paracentesis ; Patient Rights ; Peritonitis ; Plasma ; Punctures ; Renin ; Ultrafiltration*

Annular elastolytic giant cell granuloma (AEGCG) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by the annular plaques with serpiginous raised borders on the sun-exposed area. Its pathologic finding shows the patchy granulomatous infiltration composed of multinucleated giant cells, histiocytes, lymphocytes and disappearance of the elastic fibers secondary to being engulfed by the giant cells. We report a case of AEGCG in a 59-year-old-male. He had several annular, erythematous plaques with raised borders on his dorsum of the hand, neck, back and the typical histologic features of AEGCG.
Elastic Tissue ; Giant Cells* ; Granuloma, Giant Cell* ; Hand ; Histiocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Neck

Silymarin from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been reported to show an anti-cancer activity. In previous study, we reported that silymarin induces cyclin D1 proteasomal degradation through NF-κB-mediated threonine-286 phosphorylation. However, mechanism for the inhibition of Wnt signaling by silymarin still remains unanswered. Thus, we investigated whether silymarin affects Wnt signaling in human colorectal cancer cells to elucidate the additional anti-cancer mechanism of silymarin. Transient transfection with a TOP and FOP FLASH luciferase construct indicated that silymarin suppressed the transcriptional activity of β-catenin/TCF. Silymarin treatment resulted in a decrease of intracellular β-catenin protein but not mRNA. The inhibition of proteasome by MG132 and GSK3β inhibition by SB216763 blocked silymarin-mediated downregulation of β-catenin. In addition, silymarin increased phosphorylation of β-catenin and a point mutation of S33Y attenuated silymarin-mediated β-catenin downregulation. In addition, silymarin decreased TCF4 and increased Axin expression in both protein and mRNA level. From these results, we suggest that silymarin-mediated downregulation of β-catenin and TCF4 may result in the inhibition of Wnt signaling in human colorectal cancer cells.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cyclin D1 ; Down-Regulation ; Humans* ; Luciferases ; Milk Thistle ; Phosphorylation ; Point Mutation ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; RNA, Messenger ; Silymarin* ; Transfection

Pyoderma gangrenosum occuring in Behcet's disease have been rarely reported, but there are several clinical and histological similarities between Behcet's disease and pyoderma gangrenosum. We report the case of pyoderma gangrenosum occuring in Behcet's disease and describe the similarities of these diseases.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma*